Bryan Ellis Edwards

Bryan Edwards, born August 21st, 1944, to Bryan Crumpton Edwards and Joy Swadek Edwards in Akron, Ohio passed away March 4th, 2024, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bryan Edwards was a legend in the greater Tulsa real estate community. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, most as an office manager and broker, including 26 with Coldwell Banker Select, he touched so many lives and impacted everyone involved in the local industry today. A long-term member of the Forms Committee at GTAR, Bryan spent countless hours with his peers reviewing, arguing, re-writing and defending the documents that allow real estate to be practiced in the community ethically and straight forward - always with a focus on how best to serve clients while protecting everyone involved. He was also a member of the Professional Standards Committee and for a time chaired the By Laws Committee. His term as President of GTAR in 1998 was one he relished, taking on the role with great pride and joy to serve his peers. He held the professional designations of Graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and thrilled in being an Oklahoma Association of Realtors approved instructor, teaching his favorite subject of the Broker's Relationship Act at every opportunity, including teaching pre- and post- license classes to hundreds of local agents at the Oklahoma Real Estate Academy. In 2015, he was awarded the status of REALTOR EMERITUS from the National Association of Realtors in recognition of his valuable and lasting contributions to the real estate profession. His life was devoted to real estate and everything it involved. He often expressed his delight at being able to perform his job as an office manager and broker, even if (and maybe most especially) when he was faced with a difficult challenge. Bryan relished the opportunity to help guide others, and he was always at his desk waiting in anticipation for the next problem he could solve. The only time he left it was when he was out supporting his agents at a broker's open or was gone on a well-deserved fishing trip. Bryan had an unbelievable ability to make everyone he spoke to feel like they were the most important person in his life. He gave encouragement to anyone lucky enough to be under his wing, and was everyone's biggest cheerleader. The most common refrain from those remembering him these last few days has been "He always believed in me." His warmth and genuine care for people cannot be understated, nor replaced. The only things to rival his love of real estate were his other two great loves: his family and bass fishing. He was grateful to be able to mix the two often by going out on the boat with his son and grandson and catching some fish. Their annual father/son trips anywhere from the Texas/Mexico border all the way north to Minnesota was something he looked forward to all year long, and he couldn't wait to come back and let everyone know what he caught. He spent the long drives home planning the next year's trip and making his packing lists! In the early 2000's, he took several trips to the Florida Keys fishing for tarpon with the legendary fishing icon Roland Martin, making incredible memories and a wonderful friend. The one thing in life he would regularly give up a fishing day for was to watch his grandson Nolan play baseball! He is survived by his son JT Edwards and wife Christina, grandson Nolan, his sister Pam Brown and husband Dale, niece Sarah and husband Nick Hughes, great nephew Hal, nephew Stephen Brown and wife Jessica, and former wife but forever friend LuAnn Edwards. A Celebration of Life will be held March 21st at 4 pm at Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors (11505 E 43rd St, Tulsa, OK 74146). All family, friends and industry colleagues are invited to attend to share stories and celebrate Bryan's life and legacy.

Bryan Ellis Edwards

August 21, 1944 - March 4, 2024